Paswan demands revision of budget allocation for SC/ST

Claiming that the allocation for SC/ST has come down in the Union Budget, LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan today demanded that UPA government revise it and made a strong pitch for reservation in private sector.

Claiming that the allocation for SC/ST has come down in the Union Budget, LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan today demanded that UPA government revise it and made a strong pitch for reservation in private sector. "In the union budget for 2009-2010, the budget allocation for SC/ST has gone down even from the last year's budget.

The government should revise it," Paswan said giving figures of money sanctioned for different schemes for the SC/ST in the budget. The LJP chief, who also heads National Dalit Front, went a step further and demanded that "money should infact be allocated to SCs and ST as per the Special Component Plan (SCP) in accordance with their population ratio as envisaged by former late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi."

He said that money allocated for SCs and STs in this budget was about 8 per cent of the total amount of plan and non-plan expenditure while it should be 24.2 per cent in accordance the population of SC/ST in the country.

Paswan also batted for quota in private sector and demanded replacing the existing system of Government Order for reservations in government jobs with an Act, introducing punitive measures for those defying the norms.

He said that the government should take up these issues in its 100-day agenda and move towards implementing them expeditiously failing which NDF will launch agitations and rallies across the country.

"NDF demands the Centre should implement reservation in private sector, which was a promise made in the Common Minimum Programme of last UPA government. Government should expedite the process for it now," he said adding RJD chief Lalu Prasad and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will support it.

Demanding an Act for reservation, Paswan said,"the existing reservation is not being properly implemented in the absence of codified law. Government should take steps for making Reservation Act."

Reservation Bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha in December 2004. However it could not be passed in Parliament under the previous UPA government after objections were raised to certain clauses of the bill.

Paswan also sough constitution of an All India Judicial service in order to reach reservation benefits to SC/ST in the judiciary. He also sought formation of a National Judicial Commission with representation from all sections to monitor appointments and conduct of judges.

The Front also cautioned the Centre on its proposed disinvestment plan saying it "will finally push PSUs into the hands of private players and resultantly it will dilute reservation".

Meanwhile, RPI chief Ramdas Athawale said he will meet Planning Commission Vice Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia over the issue of implementation of SCP for the benefit of SC/ST communities.